Concrete building construction



Sept. 9, 1930. E. o. BBOSTROM 1,775,234

CONCRETE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 20, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RAWIN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY p 9, 1930- E. o. BRosTRoM 1,775,234

CONCRETE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 20, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEERNEST O. BROSTROM, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI CONCRETE BUILDINGCONSTRUCTION Application filed June 20, 1927. Serial No. 199,961.

The present invention relates to concrete also with fasteningelementsadapted for posiand cementitious building construction, and tivelyengaging the form units and securing aims to effect certain economies insuch work, these in properly spaced relation. It is furadapted equallyfor the construction of walls ther sought to provide such spacingelements 6 and partitions and floors, roofs or ceilings. with suitablemeans for the attachment, a-n 55 Accordingly, one of the primary objectsin choring and supporting ofextraneous devices, viewis to devise animproved means of consuch as grounds, screeds or other buildingstruction for reinforced cement or concrete units, in a convenientandefiicient manner. slabs having protruding ribs or Ts, whether Otherobjects will be in part obvious from these are constructed in eithervertical, or the accompanying drawings and in part inso inclined orhorizontal position. dicated and set forth in the following de- Forexpediting the work of such construcscription and particularly definedin the tion, I have devised an improved combinaclaims. tion form andconstruction unit adapted to In the accompanying drawings are dis- 1 beconstructed of sheet material and folded closed for illustrativepurposes certain forms 5 into a unitary structure providing the necesofembodiment of the invention, but in no sary backing for both theexterior wall or sense ls ll', meant to limit the invention to slab andthe interior plaster wall, as well as the precise arrangement andorganization of the side faces and in some cases also the end parts asshown, it being understood that my face of the rib or T. invention canbe variously arranged and or- 70 In this connection it is also an objectof ganized to attain the objects and the adaptathe invention to stillfurther expedite the tions thereof to useful purposes while still th d ftru ti by providing unitary coming within the scope of my invention.form units of the character just referred to, In the drawings withsuitable sections of reinforcing material Figure 1 is a fragmentaryperspective view 75 attached to the outer faces of the form, withillustrating a cement or concrete wall con the result that suchreinforcing material is struction embodying certain features of mysimultaneously placed with the formsand invention; without furtherattention is in position to be Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional viewof imbedded in the cement or concrete as the the same, but showingmodified forms Of 80 work proceeds. Such form units are furtherspacerelements; the concrete and plaster more designed to be constructed in aprelimiwalls being indicated by broken lines;

nary fiat state which, with the attached rein- Figure 3 is a similarview but showing f i 1S sulmble p g and shlpment still othermodifications as hereinafter rein a compact condition, ready to befolded f d t 85 g tg p p t p f use at the $1136 of the Figure 4 is asectional view taken longitumg cons.mc dinally of the form membersAnother 0b ect of the invention 15 to )rovide inexpensive but eflicientspacing defices is l i f i g- 40 in the ribs or Ts for properly spacingthe 1 Ion 5 fi t or form units the requisite distance apart and g s 1lgllne maintaining them in this relation throughlbme. represepts a en anas out the process of construction, and in addias g View of a form ftion cooperate with other reinforcing and without the network ofreinforcing ma- 46 ments to be placed in the T as a means of 2 D5strengthening the same. Accordingly it is Figure 7 represents slmllal ofmy purpose to provide these spacing elements modlfied form(fonstlllctlon; not only with means for engaging and main- Figure 8shows certain details of modified tainingthe usual reinforcing rods inpositypes of binge or fold corners for the form 50 tion Within the ribor T structure itself, but members; 100

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a modified patternfor the formblanks;

Figure 10 shows certain details in perspective and plan view of varioustypes of tie and spacer elements as hereinafter described; and

Figure 11 is an enlarged detailed view illustrating one of said tie andspacer elements serving as an anchoring for a shore or screed.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have illustrated my improvedconstruction in connection with foldable form units 12 made from anysuitable sheet material, for example, material of a fibrous or cellularcharacter such as insulation board, paper or the like, of a rigid orsemi-rigid consistency which will hold its shape and also permitassembly of the units in superposed relation as well as Withstand thestrains incident to the application of the concrete or cement andplaster walls, as hereinafter described. Such a character of materialalso adapts it for use as insulation in addition to serving as formmembers for the ribs or Ts and as backing for the Walls; but theinvention is not confined to the use of such materials, since wood,metal and other materials suitable for manufacture into form units ofthe type. illustrated may be employed to advantage in carrying out thesame general purpose.

Certain patterns and details for the sections of sheet material as usedfor making up the form units are illustrated in Figures tito 9inclusive. Referring to Figure 6, this shows the material cut to forminner and outer wall panels 14 and 16 for forming backing for the outerconcrete Wall 15 and the inner plaster wall 17, respectively, thesepanels being connected by an intermediate side panel 18 to act as aforming element for one of the side faces of a rib or T 1!) (see Figure1). In this type of form the panel 14 also carries a side panel section20 for the opposite side face of an adjoining rib or T, and also one ormore end panels for closing up the space at the end of the wall panel aswell as coopcrating with the side panels for holding the wall panels inspaced relation. 'lhis reference to inner and outer wall panels isintended to comprehend any position or arrangement of the form work formolding a wall or slab 15 Whether this occupies a vertical position asillustrated for an outside wall, or is constructed as a partition, orceiling, flooring, roofing, etc.

For producing the hinge or l'old structure between the several panels,the material may be cut, pressed, scored, or adapted by any practicalexpedient to fold along the lines 24 in order to provide for folding ofthe panels at substantially right angles, as illustrated in Figures 1 to4. Different types of hinge structures for the same purposes are shownin Figure 8, where the panels. say 16 and 18, are provided with aflexible connecting strip 25 permitting the panels with eitherstraightcut and separated edges as indicated at A, or with curved-cutmeeting edges as indicated with the panels 16 and 18' at B, to be swunginto right-angular positions; or the flexible hinge strip may be appliedto straight-cut meeting edges as indicated at C, or between overlappingedges as indicated at D for producing a marginal extension 16 along onemargin of the panel 16 for the purpose of projecting more or less acrossthe rib or T space 19' as illustrated in Figure 3. It is obvious thatthis projection 16 may be extended either part way or fully across saidT space, Figure 8 showing this overlapping function of the panel 16divided between its extension 16 and the opposite margin of said panel.In the form of panel shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6, the width of the panel16 exceeds that of the panel 14 by the width of theT 1f), theT-overlapping margin in this case being that portion between the dottedline 16 and the outer edge of the panel in Figure 6. Similarly, inFigure 7 the T-overlapping func tion of this panel is divided betweenthe ex tension lying between the dotted line 16 and the outer edge ofthe panel, and the extension 16 formed by the same type of hinge asillus trated at D in Figure 8.

The form units are designed to be made in any desired length asindicated in Figures (5 and 7 and omitting either or both of the endpanels 22, Figure 7 representing the bottom end panel omitted. The wallpanel 16 may be made longer than the panel 14 to form extensions fornailing purposes as indicated at 26 in Figure 4, or may be made of thesame length as indicated by the dotted lines 16* in order to facilitateassembling of the form units in superposed relation.

In Figure 9 l have illustrated a slightly modified outline or patternfor cutting the form unit, in that the wall panel 16 is cut in twotriangular mating sections, a section 16 con'iprising an extension fromthe side panel 18, and a section lti comprising an extension from theother side panel 20 and matching the section 1(3 when the blank isfolded to produce the complete rectangular panel 16, as represented bythe broken line in said F i gure 9. Such a pattern is desirable asmaking for economy in the cutting of the blank from the sheet.

If desired, the side panels of the form units may be suitably reinforcedas represented, for example, at 21' in Figure 3, or the interior facesof the panel 14 may be braced by cross cleats 28 or the like, but suchreinforcing features are by no means essential asa general rule. But asthe form units are to be made up and shipped in a fiat compactcondition, I prefer under some conditions to equip them with the properamount of reinforcing material for the concrete or cement wall 15 and,if desired, also for the plaster wall 17, which may be accomplished byapplying sections of screen, wire mesh, metal lath or equivalentmaterial 29 to the outer faces of the wall panels 14 and 16, whichmaterial may be secured directly against the panels 14 by means ofstaples 30 or the like, but I prefer to use washers 31 or similarspacing devices in connection with the staples for holding the material29 slightly away from the panels 16 when placed in position as shown inFigures 1 to 4.

The general'sehgme or arrangement of the form units in the assembly ofthe same for the slab and T construction is apparent from, theforegoing, and for retaining the same in such relation during theapplication of the concrete material, various bonding and spacing meansmay be employed. Frame pieces or strips 32 are illustrated in Figure 1across the face of the T 19, to which strips the margins of the panels16 ma be secured by nails 26. In such a case the flame pieces are to beleft permanently in place; but in other cases temporary frame pieces orsupports 33 may be employed, as illustrated in Figure 3. In either ofthese cases I may employ what may be termed a spacing member adapted tobe stamped from sheet metal and comprising a body portion of parallelsections 34 form.- ing bracing or reinforcing means for the T andadapted to be spread apart to permit placing of the reinforcing rods 35,which are conveniently held in place by wings or lugs 36, and one of theends of said body portion 34, bent over as shown, the other end beingadapted to act as a gaging projection to determine the thickness of theconcrete wall or slab 15. From the body portion also project wings orlugs 36 which act as spacer elements in the positioning of the formunits the proper distance apart. As indicated in Figure 3, the body ofthe spacer may be formed with prongs 40 to project through the marginsof the panel 16 of the form unit, or through two such margins asrepresented in said figure (thus tying the same together), and also intothe frame piece 33, after the removal of which the prongs may be bentback or used for the attachment of grounds at the exterior of theplaster wall 17.

In Figure 10 several different types of tie or bond and spacing elementsare illustrated, the same being designed to be mounted in the T space 19for reinforcing the same and also spacing the form units the properdistance apart, and in some cases tying said units together. At E insaid figure is illustrated a tie and spacing element comprising the yokeshaped body 45 with two sets of spacing wings-or lugs 46 and oppositelyprojecting hook elements 47 designed for engagement with the forms, theextremities of said hooks being bent or clinched as in the case of thetie and spacing element shown at the left in Figure 2. In the deviceshown at F in Figure 10 (which is also adapted to be convenientlyconstructed from a sheet metal blank) one end is formed with a lug 50for nailing to a frame strip, and intermediate. its ends are formedoppositely projecting spacing wings 51 provided with hook elements 52for engaging the form units; the balance of the device is similar to thedevice 31 already described. The device shown at (l is formed with spursor prongs 53 for engaging and tying the form units together and alsowith a lug 54 adapted to be bent over a rein forcing rod 35 to hold itin-place. At 11 is shown a flat plate 56 with spacing lugs 57 to engaget e form units and an end lug 55 for nailing it to a frame piece; thebody of the device is cut with holes 59 for the reinforcing rods 35, andthe other projecting end (it) of the body is crimped or corrugated forthe anchoring of other materials not adapted to be secured by any of theother methods shown. The remaining devices in said Figure 10 are wireadaptations for the same general purpose, the construction at I formingthe same type of yoke body, the spacing coils 62 and terminal hooks forattaching to the form units; at J a two part wire structure is shown,providing the yoke member 64 with anchoring terminals 65, and a bond ortie. element 66 having the spacing shoulders 67 and hook terminals 68,one'hperative position of this structure being illustrated at the rightin Figure 2. The device shown at K is of a yielding or resilient typeadapted to be spread for admitting the reinforcing rods 35 into thecurved seats 70; one end is forn'ied with a spacing coil 71 and theother end is oli' et laterally and provided with a spur 72 which may bedrivenby a hammer blow into a frame piece; this device is adapted to beplaced in alternate positions, first right and then left, that is inpairs with the coils 71 facing in opposite directions.

The tie and spacing element shown at the left in Figure 2 is providedwith prongs or hooks 74 similar to those of the device F in Figure 10,for retaining engagement with the form units, while the outer ends ofthe device are elongated to provide extensions 75 which are spreadslightly and formed with nail openings for the attaching of nailingstrips, cleats or the like. One application of this feature isillustrated on a larger scale in Figure 11 where the elongations 75 arebent at the proper angles for being clamped and se cured to a screed 76carrying flooring 77 or the like, and for insulation purposes a pad 78of insulation material is clamped between the fingers or elongations 75and the screed member. By this construction a practically absolute sounddeadening action can be established between such construction units.

In Figure 3 I illustrate a still further type of bond and spacer meanscomprising a metal impervious strip 80, also shown in perspective inFigure 5 as stamped with a series of lugs 82 in staggered relation toengage the edges of adjoining form units, and also lugs 83 projectingoutward and adapted to be bent for retaining engagement with the plasterwall panels 16; ,In this construction any appropriate tie or bondelement such as an ordinary wire sling or stirrup 85 may be used forholding the rods 35 in place and tying the same to the reinforcingmaterial 29. At the right in this same view I show a plain yoke orU-shaped clip 86 which may be carried by the plaster wall panels forretaining engagement with the'outer edge of the side panel 20, as willbe readily uiulerstood- It will thus be apparent that I have devisedpractical and efiicient means for carrying out the proposed objects ofthe invention. The improved type of form unit effects a great practicaleconomy in building operations due to its atl'ording a unitary membercomprising all the backing surfaces required for not only the slab and Tor rib but also the plaster wall itself, and, since it may beconstructed of material having a high insulation value, its being leftin place dispenses with any additional operation for'the. installationof such material next to the slab or as part of the outside wall.Moreover. if desired. the panel 16 may be permanently waterproofed priorto the installation of the form units in the building process. Theconstruction of form units of a. knockdown character as described otlerscertain other advantages from 0 the standpoint of economy andefiiciency,

since they can be shipped and stored in a flat condition and thereafterquickly assembled for use on the job. In this connection a tremendouslyimportant gain in efficiency is due to the adaptability of the formunits for the application of the wall reinforcing materials during themanufacture of the form, and the possibility of handling it with thereinforcing webbing attached to the faces of those panels which act asbacking for the walls requiring such reinforcing. By this method theinstallation of this reinforcing material is 'arried out with a minimumof time at labor, and without in any way interfering with any step ofthe building operation. The, vprious means provided for the spacing ofthe forms and the retaining of the same in proper relation during theformation of the cement or concrete structure, and finishing of theplaster walls, are in all respects adapted for the proper and efficientperformance of the described functions. It is further apparent thatexceedingly high insulation value may be obtained by virtue of the formunit structure, especially where a number of these units reducedsuflicieutly in size are superimposed upon each other, the partitionsbetween the cells stopping the air circulation within the form unitsthemselves.

It is not to be understood, however, that the scope of the invention isto be limited I to the specific expedients herein set forth for carryingthe invention into practice, and I expressly reserve the right to makeall such changes and modifications as may fairly fall within the scopeof the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters l atent 1. A form member of sheet material for use in concreteor cement-itious work, comprising a central panel with folding wingportions collapsible upon the faces of the central panel into a flatshipping condition, said wing portions being also movable into partiallyopen or expanded condition forming a permanent unitary backing andspacing unit including a central backing panel and side or wing panels.

2. A form for concrete construction Work comprising foldable members ofsheet ma terial including outside and inside wall panels andintermediate side panels hingedly connected therewith and forming aunitar spacing form providing backgrounds for bot the outer or concretewall and the inner plaster wall.

3. A form for concrete construction work comprising foldable members ofsheet material including outside and inside wall panels and intermediateside panels hingedly connected therewith, the inside panel being ofgreater width than the outside panel for projecting past one or more ofsaid side panels when opened up into form position.

4. A form for concrete construction Work comprising foldable members ofsheet material providing outside and inside Wall panels and intermediateside and one or more end panels hingedly connected with said Wall panelsand forming a unitary spacing form providing backgrounds for both theouter or concrete wall and the inner plaster wall when opened up intoform position.

5. A form for concrete construction work comprising foldable members ofsheet material providing outside and inside Wall panels and intermediateside panels hingedly connected therewith. the inside panel having one ofits side margins extending into projecting relation past thecorresponding side panel when opened up into form position.

6. A form for concrete construction Work comprising foldable members ofsheet material providing outside and inside Wall panels and intermediateside panels hingedly connected therewith and forming a unitary spacingform providing backgrounds for both the outer concrete wall and theinner plaster wall, and reinforcing material for said outer wall securedto the outer face of either wall panel.

7. Form work for concrete construction of the concrete slab and integralT or rib type, said form work comprising a unitary form member of sheetmaterial providing backing for the slab and also for the inner plasterwall, and provided with an extension in projecting relation across theend of said T or rib space.

8. Form Work for concrete construction of the concrete slab and integralT or rib type, said form work comprising form members providing backpanels as backing for the slab and side panels for the sides of the T,and spacing members connecting the side panels of adjacent form membersand acting as temporary spacing means for maintaining said form membersin properly spaced relation and also as permanent reinforcing means forthe finished T.

9. Form Work for concrete construction of the concrete slab and integralT or rib type, said form work comprising box or cell-like form membersproviding backing for said slab and the inside plaster wall and also forthe sides of the T, and spacing members located in the T space andhaving means for engaging adjacent sides of said form members andmaintaining the same in proper spaced relation.

10. Form Work for concrete construction of the concrete slab andintegral T or rib type, said form work comprising box or celllike formmembers providing backing for said slab and the inside plaster Wall andalso for the sides of the T, and spacing members located in the T spaceand having means for engaging adjacent sides of said form members andmaintaining the same in proper spaced relation, said spacing membershaving one or more extensions serving as fastening nllegns forextraneous devices for the wall or s a 11. Form work for concreteconstruction of the concrete slab and integral T or rib type, said formwork comprising form members providing backing for the slab and for thesides of the T, reinforcing rods within the space for said T, andspacing members located in the T space in engagement with adjacent sidesof the form members and maintaining the same in properly spaced relationand having retaining elements engaging and serving as temporaryanchoring means for said rods.

In witness whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ERNEST O. BROSTROM.

